Month: June 2014

Bumbo Chairs: A Product In Search Of A Problem

The Bumbo chair appeared on my radar in the last 10 years. It seems to me that the manufacturer has solved a problem that does not truly exist.  Get a good high chair, or use a well-designed booster seat that can sit on the floor.  If your child has motor delays, this chair is going…… Continue reading Bumbo Chairs: A Product In Search Of A Problem

Tantrum Taming With Special Needs Toddlers

Toddler tantrums are difficult to handle in the first place. The screaming, throwing and hitting can come as a wave of emotion that overwhelms and frightens both the child and the parent. When you have a toddler that may be emotionally age-appropriate but has difficulty expressing thoughts or understanding language, and add trouble handling sensory…… Continue reading Tantrum Taming With Special Needs Toddlers

Water Wow: Summer Pre-writing Fun on the Road

One of my favorite toys for 2-4 year olds is a perfect summer travel item. Melissa and Doug’s Water Wow series is a ring-bound set of 4 pages with a refillable plastic pen with a brush tip. Fill the base with water, twist the top on, and scribble as the water reveals colors and hidden…… Continue reading Water Wow: Summer Pre-writing Fun on the Road

Father’s Day: Time to Celebrate and Play Rough

The WSJ recently ran a terrific article, “Roughhousing Lessons From Dad”, on the deeper benefits of dads hanging out and physically playing with their kids. Boys or girls, the benefits of having a father that plays with his kids seems quite obvious. This article reminds us that what starts out as a pick-up game during…… Continue reading Father’s Day: Time to Celebrate and Play Rough

Eating Fish in Pregnancy and Beyond: Eat This/Not That

The FDA has made an additional recommendation to pregnant and nursing women: eat at least 8 but not more than 12 ounces of certain fish for your baby’s health. Don’t eat too much albacore tuna but eat some light tuna. Specific choices they recommend are the fish most likely to have low levels of mercury.…… Continue reading Eating Fish in Pregnancy and Beyond: Eat This/Not That

Can You Sleep Train a Newborn?

Sleep training is a hot topic with parents of older babies and toddlers. So many are struggling and bewildered. New parents either pray they will escape this fate or confidently assume they are the exception. It isn’t really the roulette wheel that it seems. Parents are often told that they cannot do much to develop…… Continue reading Can You Sleep Train a Newborn?

The Science Behind Handwriting

The New York Times ran a fantastic story this week, summarizing the scientific research on the benefits of handwriting on brain development. As a pediatric occupational therapist with a specialization in handwriting instruction, it was very exciting to see their conclusions. I have read the studies they referenced, and they are solid science, not just…… Continue reading The Science Behind Handwriting

Welcome to Your Child’s Brain: Book Review

Ever wonder if all the recommendations and “new” ways to raise your children are based on anything scientific? Well, “Welcome to Your Child’s Brain” will explain the current research behind popular recommendations such as eating fish during pregnancy and teaching your child another language while still in diapers. Authors Sam Wang, PhD. and Sandra Aamodt,…… Continue reading Welcome to Your Child’s Brain: Book Review

Summer Swaddling to Keep Your Baby Cool and Safe

Warm weather has arrived, and with it the question of what to do with a baby that sleeps best swaddled. The answer: dress for the season! Babies that are too warm when swaddled have hot ears and sweaty necks. Did you know that overheating is one of the risk factors for SIDS (Sudden infant Death…… Continue reading Summer Swaddling to Keep Your Baby Cool and Safe

Nap Nanny Death; A Preventable Tragedy

The infant recliner called the “Nap Nanny” had already been recalled, but another death was reported in NJ this weekend.  The story involves an 8-month old child who was belted in and trapped between the nap nanny recliner and a crib bumper, as per reports in USA Today and other news media. Infant recliners are popular…… Continue reading Nap Nanny Death; A Preventable Tragedy

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